If I had a penny for every thought imagined, every lesson learned, I’d be a millionaire; and working in the solar industry has taught me a lot. Below are the top 10 things I have learned from solar.

10. A Little Goes a Long Way: In an age where a loaf of bread can almost seem to break the bank, it’s hard to believe that a little can go a long way. But it’s true. If we can fit one solar panel on a home, that homeowner is going to save money. If we can fit two, then they’ve doubled their savings. And who doesn’t want more savings? Read More

One of our install guys was telling me that he thought solar panels provided passive cooling to the rooftop. His theory was that since the sunlight hits the panels, rather than the roof, then the roof would be cooler. I thought about triple pane windows and wondered if the same concept that allows triple pane windows to provide better insulation would apply to solar.

Many people think that the main reason a triple pane glass insulates so well is the argon gas between the panes. Yes, the gas helps, but it’s the layers of glass that really matter. Think about it. When its 20 degrees outside you have a layer of glass, then air, then another layer of glass and air, and then glass. In fact, when it comes to keeping that cold air outside, it’s the air that matters. The cold air has to absorb into the first layer of warmer air, and then go through a layer of glass into another layer of warmer air. By the time the outside air get to your house it has passed through two layers and therefore, provides excellent insulation to your home. Read More

Have you noticed all of the solar projects going up around you? Do your neighbors have solar? Perhaps a relative or a friend just got solar installed? What about the guy down the block? I am certain that you can find a neighborhood near you that has several solar projects.

If you have not yet noticed your neighbors choosing solar, you will soon. Solar is everywhere. And I see it more than ever before. Now this could be because I install solar so solar panels naturally catch my eye. But, I do not think so. While being a solar installer keeps me looking at roofs, the truth is that there are just more solar systems to look for. Want to know one reason for that? Solar panels simply look good on a roof. They certainly look good on my house. They look good on my uncle’s house. And I’m sure that they would look especially good on your house (particularly when you get your electric bill). Read More

So are you thinking of installing a Solar PV System? Or maybe you have one in your yard or on your roof. Either way, the question of what to do to keep the kWh production at its highest, applies to all solar homeowners.

First of all, kilowatt hour (kWh) production should always be monitored. There should be a comparison between what the system is calculated to produce and what the system is actually producing. Solar is very scientific. Calculations of what a solar PV system produces is relatively accurate. . And of course, weather is a factor, so the focus should be on monthly production. Read More

As a Solar Consultant for Rayah Solar, different questions and comments about the system come my way; some old, some new, and some are just plain interesting. Recently a customer asked about EMF’s (Electromagnetic Fields), and not knowing too much on the subject I did a little research.

What exactly is an electromagnetic field and what do studies have to say about them? Are EMF’s a legitimate concern with solar or the product of a concerned blogger’s wrong conclusions? Read More